BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Dalton Massey burst onto the rodeo scene in 2023, transforming from a steer wrestler who had never qualified for the NFR to breaking the regular season earnings record and finishing second in the World Standings.
What followed proved his success was no fluke.
In 2024, Massey wrapped up the season with $199,263—$6,000 more than his record-setting performance the year before. He heads into his second NFR ranked No. 1 in the World for the second consecutive year, this time with a $30,000 lead.
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, $21,500
Massey dominated the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo from the jump when he recorded a 3.4-second time on his first run. All four of his runs were 4.5 or faster and a 3.7 in the Finals is what won it for him.
Massey also made the Finals of RodeoHouston during the Texas Swing.
Reno Rodeo, $10,422
The two pivotal stretches of the ProRodeo season are the Texas Swing and 100 Rodeos in 100 Days and Massey started both of them out with a win. In Reno, he had three times of 4.9 seconds or faster and was second in the Finals with a 4.1. Despite not placing in Rounds 1 or 2, his 13.9 seconds on three head was enough to win him the $9,294 first place average check.
St. Paul Rodeo, $14,877
Massey’s performance in St. Paul may have been his most impressive of any rodeo this season. He was 3.6 seconds to take third in Round 1 and 3.5 to win Round 2 to win the Average with 7.1 seconds on two. It is the fastest two-head time for a steer wrestler in St. Paul in at least a decade.
Pendleton Round-Up, $11,064
A win in Pendleton in September it September would have meant that Massey would have won the two highest paying rodeos in Oregon this season, but he had to settle for second behind fellow Beaver State native Jesse Brown.
Massey placed in Round 2 and the Finals and handled the difficult score in Pendleton well by finishing with an aggregate time of 18.4 seconds on three. It was the first time since 2021 Massey made the Finals there.
Governor’s Cup, $26,250
Massey officially broke his own PRCA regular season earnings record on his final run of the season when he stopped the clock at 4 seconds flat to win the Governor’s Cup. Two of his three other runs at the event were also in the 4s.
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